Question

Identify two features of the Oedipus Complex.

MCQ Options:
a. The Oedipus Complex excludes unconscious desires.
b. It involves a child's unconscious desire for the parent of the same sex.
c. A feature is the absence of rivalry between parents.
d. It includes rivalry with the parent of the same sex.

Answer 1

The Oedipus Complex involves a child's unconscious desire for the opposite-sex parent and rivalry with the same-sex parent.

Step-by-step explanation:

Two features of the Oedipus Complex described by Sigmund Freud are:

• It includes a child's unconscious desire for the opposite-sex parent.
• It involves rivalry and jealousy towards the same-sex parent, with whom the child competes for the affection of the opposite-sex parent.

In the context of a boy, the Oedipus Complex involves the boy's desire for his mother and a rivalry with his father, who is seen as a competitor for the mother's attention. This complex is resolved when the boy starts to identify with the father, mitigating feelings of rivalry and abandonment of his desire for his mother.